Compare towns
Mason vs Townsend vs Auburn vs Webster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mason has the most kids (28.8% under 18).
Townsend has the most renters (18% rent).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Webster has the most affordable homes ($339k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Mason | Townsend | Auburn | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,451Lowest |
9,100Highest |
6,119 |
2,227 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+20%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
44.3±5.9 14% above U.S. |
44.7±7.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Webster and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 28.8%±6.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
19.3%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±8 U.S.: 22% |
| Mason and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.6%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Webster and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Auburn and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,090±$3k 38% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
$153,253±$6kHighest 90% above U.S. |
$107,171±$14kLowest 33% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $384,000±$21k 15% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
$600,300±$29kHighest 80% above U.S. |
$338,500±$30kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,530±$852Highest 79% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
$1,893±$822 34% above U.S. |
$1,396±$622Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Mason and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,049 126% above U.S. |
$6,031 93% above U.S. |
$8,092Highest 159% above U.S. |
$6,021Lowest 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 87.2%±42.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.6%±71 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mason and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 41 minHighest 55% above U.S. |
37 min 41% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.7%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Auburn and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #136 of 282 in MA | #44 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Mason School District | North Middlesex | Auburn School District | Merrimack Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.